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Legacy Aviation Learning Center

EIN 88-2842581 · Traverse City, MI

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak15 out of 100GovernanceWeak30 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.
  • It owes more than it owns.
  • Raising each dollar of donations cost 1774 cents.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

LEGACY AVIATION LEARNING CENTER IS PRIMARILY ORGANIZED TO OPERATE A FAA CERTIFIED PART 147 AIRCRAFT MECHANIC TECHNICIAN SCHOOL (AMTS) AND SERVE THE GENERAL AVIATION COMMUNITY AS A HUB FOR CONTINUING EDUCATION; SPONSORING THE EXPERIMENTAL AIRCAFT ASSOCATION (EAA), EAA YOUNG EAGLES, AND THE CIVIL AIR PATROL (CAP). LEGACY AVIATION WAS CREATED TO BE A WOLRD-CLASS AMT SCHOOL.

Income
$1.0 million
Spending
$1.6 million
Spent on programs
74%
Reserves
-12.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 100%
Employees
11
Highest pay
$130,000, ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2026, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 15 out of 100. Higher than 0% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    0 of 20

    It owes 587% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 53% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 603% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    74% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1774 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2026, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Weak: 30 out of 100. Higher than 2% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 8 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    0 of 10

    Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2026, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (1)
  1. $1.2 million spent. SPONSORING THE FACILITIES FOR THE OPERATION OF THE EXPERIMENTAL AIRCRAFT ASSOCIATION AND THE CIVIL AIR PATROL CHAPTERS IN THE TRAVERSE CITY AREA, WITH AN AVERAGE MONTHLY ATTENDANCE OF 100 UNIQUE INDIVIDUALS, SPANNING AGES 8-80 YEARS OLD, LEARNING ABOUT AND ADVANCING CAREERS IN AVIATION. SECURING AN FAA CERTIFICATE LALT669K TO OPERATE AN AVIATION MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN SCHOOL. WE ARE A NON-PROFIT SCHOOL WITH TUITION AND FEES ONLY COVERING OPERATING EXPENSES NECESSARY TO DELIVER A WORLD-CLASS STUDENT EXPERIENCE.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2026, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending May 2026.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since January 2023.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated November 4, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.